icepuffin Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I have had a couple of problems with the 7 pin electrics on car, currently the centre pin on my white socket has bent making it difficult to connect. The caravan has a 13 pin socket and I have been using a 13 pin to 7 pin adapter. I am taking it to my local garage to either replace the white socket and the adapter or should I just replace the two 7 pin on the car with a 13 pin socket. Are there any issues people have had connecting the 13 pin to the car. ( I have sometimes had problems with the 7 pin connectors being very tight and having to wiggle them to free them out.) Quote Nissan X trail Dci 150 Sport - Bailey Ranger 520 /4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozerp Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I'd say go with the 13pin over 7 pin replacement, fewer points to potentially cause a bad connection and less hastle with no adapters. Had our car changed to 13pin when we changed vans last year. No issues at all, infact because it's twist fit rather than just push in it feels more secure to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leedslad Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Another vote for the 13 pin system here! John Quote Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does, he'll tell you. If he doesn't, why humiliate him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiaboy Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Another vote for the 13 pin system here! John +1 Quote 2013(13) Sorento KX2 2. 2 Diesel Manual, (With smelling clutch) Glittering Metal (Metallic Grey) dragging a 2020 Coachman VIP 520 with a Powrtouch Evolution Motor Mover (Towing @ 80. 0%) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caravanalife Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Definitely go for the 13 pin so much better! Quote Ford Mondeo Estate Titaniuim TDCi mk4 (16v 140 BHP) (2008) Towing Elddis Odyssey 544 (2008) Truma mover S towing at 98% My web site caravanlife. updated 28/5/2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainM1970 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Another vote for the 13 pin set up . ... so much easier to use. Quote 2018 Swift Elegance 580 towed by a 2018 Volvo XC60 D5 Power Pulse R Design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PR1 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 We swapped to the 13 pin setup when we changed the caravan. Much happier with it. Quote 2019 Bailey Platinum (640) Phoenix from Chipping Sodbury caravans, towed by our 2017 my Discovery Sport! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallah Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 +1 for 13 pin, much better method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OWOMW Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Definitely go for a 13 pin. If you ever need to tow a trailer with a 7 pin plug then get a stubby adaptor to provide road legal lights http://www. screwfix. com/p/maypole-13-pin-vehicle-to-7-pin-trailer-adaptor-12v-x-55-x-92mm/48935 Quote Land Rover is now back towing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jslocks Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) + another for 13 pin. Make sure it is wired correctly. Mine wasn't. Edited August 12, 2014 by Jslocks Quote Sadly no van anymore but 35 years was a good run John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exkiaman Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Yet another vote for 13 pin. Definitely prefer it to the old 12N/12S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigstu99 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I converted my caravan to 13 pins as the new car (to us) had a tow bar fitted with 13 pin, I agree it has a better feel twisting the plug home . And it looks like a more waterproof connection . Quote Santa Fe cdx+ , fleetwood countryside 450-ek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icepuffin Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Looks like it's settled then! Thanks for the replies. Quote Nissan X trail Dci 150 Sport - Bailey Ranger 520 /4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 JUST a point, I changed to the 13 pin when I changed my tow car and used a "two cables into one new 13 pin plug" on the caravan (its just a normal 13 pin plug but the grommet is made to accommodate 2 cables not one - bought off eBay). One problem - I fitted a new 13pin plug "keeper" on the A frame to keep it all neat and tidy but unbeknown to me ( should have spotted it) the rainwater got through my rather old and tatty tow hitch cover and had run down the slight gap between the two cables (capillary action) and just sat in the "keep" gently corroding the pins over winter - come 1st outing pre-check - completely b****d plug!! Solution - new plug and squirt sealer in the grommet - then re-position the "keep" UNDER THE "NEW" waterproof tow hitch cover. Other than that I agree 13pin much easier and more positive with the "twist" action to lock it. Jim Quote "keep your motor running" caravan: Avondale Avocet ( 2006) - tow car: Renault Laguna (2007) - play car: Mercedes 300SL (1988) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansoady Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Yet another for 13 pin. Changed ours when I bought my current towcar in 2009 and not a single problem. An end to the wiggling and wobbling of the old 12s and N. Quote Ian. 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 Auto / 2005 Bailey Pageant Vendée; 1952 Norton ES2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallah Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 If you get an adaptor for your 12n and S plugs then get one of these rather than the ones with short cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiaboy Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 If you get an adaptor for your 12n and S plugs then get one of these rather than the ones with short cables. I thought the OP was asking about changing his car tow electrics from twins, as the caravan already is 13 pin, so I think the above is not what is being asked for as this is to convert the tow car 13 pin to caravan twin Quote 2013(13) Sorento KX2 2. 2 Diesel Manual, (With smelling clutch) Glittering Metal (Metallic Grey) dragging a 2020 Coachman VIP 520 with a Powrtouch Evolution Motor Mover (Towing @ 80. 0%) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallah Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 True, must have been JamesF talking about the twin cables. Anyway, always worth having one of these incase you have to tow something with the old 12n and 12s plugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiaboy Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Anyway, always worth having one of these in case you have to tow something with the old 12n and 12s plugs. Too true, I must admit I have not seen one before only the 13 - 7 pin trailer adaptor. Quote 2013(13) Sorento KX2 2. 2 Diesel Manual, (With smelling clutch) Glittering Metal (Metallic Grey) dragging a 2020 Coachman VIP 520 with a Powrtouch Evolution Motor Mover (Towing @ 80. 0%) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffordshirechina Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 We used to get pin melting problems. Now on 13 pins and no sign of any trouble in the last two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodentop Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I would hope that the caravan has a 13 pin PLUG and not socket as stated by the OP! ;-)) The problem with the middle pin (7) on a 12S is that it is the earth return for the fridge and will be carrying 10A or more. Corrosion on the pins will cause resistance which will make the pin warm up at that sort of current. The simple answer, often done to overcome the problem, is to link pins 3 and 7 on the 12S both on the car socket and on the caravan plug. The current is then split across two pins which should help prevent warming. Similarly pin 5 is unused in most 12S connections so that could be paralleled with pin 6 (fridge) to split the live current also. But as my learned friends above have all said, 13 pin is much the better option. However do be aware that 13-pin cabling on the car is usually designed to connect directly into the car management system so converting from 12N and 12S to 13 may not be quite so simple as it seems. [For the record 12N is Noir or black, and 12S is slate or grey.] Quote 2018 Passat B8 Estate 150GT TDi150 towing a 2018 Bailey Unicorn S4 Seville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bspks Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) [For the record 12N is Noir or black, and 12S is slate or grey.] When the system for 2 plugs was first introduced, I'm sure it was explained that 12N stood for Normal and 12S for Supplementary. The 12N being the one normally used for the (then) older caravans and trailers and the 12S being used for supplementary circuits such as battery charging and the fridge, and reversing lights. It was introduced, as much as anything, due to the requirement for new trailers to be fitted with fog rear lights. This meant that the officially unallocated pin 2, which was unofficially usually used to provide 12V for the internal caravan systems, was designated as the fog light supply. This of course lead to a need for additional supplementary connections. Edited August 13, 2014 by bspks Quote Ssangyong Korando Sports SX / Adria Altea 472DS Eden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFM Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 There is only one thing to beware of with the 13 pin system, and that is the collar. The pins are locked into place by a rotating collar that engages with the socket. If by chance, the collar rotates when not engaged with the socket, the plug simply won't go in until you reset it to the correct position. There is a green cap that you can buy to reset it, or you can do what I do which is to get a pair of snipe-nose pliers and rotate the collar while using the pliers to stop the pins rotating too. I spent an increasingly irate hour in Norfolk a couple of years ago solving that little puzzle. Quote Enjoy every minute of every day. It doesn't last nearly as long as you'd like, and there's no guarantee of coming this way again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 True, must have been JamesF talking about the twin cables. Anyway, always worth having one of these incase you have to tow something with the old 12n and 12s plugs. OOps!!! Sorry totally missed the fact that there were already 13pin electrics on the Caravan, wrapped up in the problems I had converting my Caravan to 13pin !!! Still it's still a point for anyone else converting their Caravan to 13pin Jim Quote "keep your motor running" caravan: Avondale Avocet ( 2006) - tow car: Renault Laguna (2007) - play car: Mercedes 300SL (1988) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.